St. Louis County man pleads to attempted arson of Ferguson market

FERGUSON, Mo. (KMOV.com) – A St. Louis County man admitted to attempting to start a fire inside the Ferguson Supermarket the night the grand jury announcement was made by Robert McCulloch.

Antonio Whiteside, 26, pled guilty to one count of attempted arson on Friday.

In surveillance video from inside the store, Whiteside is seen spraying several boxes with lighter fluid and starting a fire, according to police. After the fire begins, an unknown man uses milk to put the flames out. Whiteside's lawyer said his client got scared and told someone to put the fire out.

“He is a decent kid that got caught up in the emotion and mob-type action, which we know about in this country what happens with mob activity and he got caught up with that, that's pretty much it,” Rodney Holmes, Whiteside's attorney, said.

Whiteside's sentencing has been set for July 23. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan says the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and St. Louis County police have been working together since the rioting on Nov. 24. Callahan expects additional indictments.

Several businesses in and near Ferguson were destroyed by fire on Nov. 24. The blaze at Ferguson Market was put out quickly.